Urban density, and its importance in attracting young professionals, was a major theme on the 21st annual Community Leadership Visit to Omaha, Neb., by the Springfield chamber.
Omaha is home to five Fortune 500 company headquarters, the most notable being Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK). It has reclaimed the nation’s largest environmental cleanup site for a riverfront of impressive civic cultural facilities. Its most affluent leaders have joined together to create nonprofit Heritage Services and raise over half-a-billion dollars for signature community projects.
I returned home gratified that the foundation is well in place to create the collisions and clusters needed to attract and retain young professionals to the Queen City.
Springfield college students generate energy by attending classes downtown and on Commercial Street, meeting in groups in coffee shops, propelling the local arts scene, and patronizing restaurants and nightlife.
Student housing is increasing density to the Kimbrough and Jefferson avenue corridors with hundreds of new beds and commercial uses such as Qdoba, Firehouse Subs and the new KimBrew jazz lounge. Student loft apartments have resurrected the McDaniel and Woodruff buildings into The U and Sky Eleven with $22 million in new investment.
One area of missed opportunity in higher education is the planned medical school site for Springfield. In the ongoing budget battles with the legislature, Gov. Jay Nixon withheld the $10 million authorized for the initiative. Meanwhile, CoxHealth and Mercy are working together as they recognize its importance to recruiting more quality physicians to the region. MSU and the University of Missouri are collaborating to elevate the services of both institutions.
The Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center is virtually full, The eFactory offers a wide variety of support services for startups and hosts one of the top 1 Million Cups programs in the country, and the new pharmacology program at Brick City has the area buzzing with activity. The Jordan Valley Community Health Center just opened its Dr. John Bentley Center for Health and Wellness and is finalizing its new front door with the annexation of Tampa Street.
At least two redevelopment sites in the IDEA Commons, and the daylighting of Jordan Creek, await for the next entrepreneur or firm to tap into them.
The $4 million City Utilities Bus Transfer Station at College Street and Main Avenue is in the final stages. It offers the chance for leaders to invest in alternative transportation by creating more office and industrial jobs on sites within walking distance. The new bus station site will be designed in conjunction with Renew Jordan Creek Project, West Meadows and The Link to strengthen the greenway trail and on-street bike system.
Springfield has worked to balance the desire for greater density with best practices in urban design and livability.
A comprehensive toolbox of development incentives includes historic tax credits, tax abatement, brownfield remediation, small-business loans and gap financing from the Springfield Finance and Development Corp.
The investments in the past decade on public spaces have made sidewalks more attractive for dining, socializing and soaking up the sunshine. Community events have grown immensely as young professionals demonstrate their fondness for festivals, fitness and food several weekends each month.
The addition of more downtown residents and workers will increase the usage of these spaces. Everyday activities will introduce a higher level of expectations for formerly dark corners of downtown.
The public and private sectors have set a strong foundation. 2015 will build on that hard work with the scheduled completion of Heer’s, Sky Eleven, Sterling Lofts and Vandivort Hotel.
So, Mr. Buffett, your accommodations will be ready by this time next year for you and any of your Omaha leaders who would like to visit.
Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.[[In-content Ad]]
